Co-Creating a New Earth Vision through the Alchemy of Ecology

Authenticity and Sustainability

You must first be who you really are, then do what you really need to do, in order to have what you want.

~ Margaret Young

The more I let go of what other people think, the more I realize that authenticity is an ongoing practice. I’m actually choosing how I want to live moment to moment, every day.

When I choose to show up and be real, I’m letting my true self be seen. I’m not selling myself short to please someone else. Brené Brown does a beautiful job of describing the anatomy of authenticity—I love the gift of Brené’s presence in the world.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are. Choosing authenticity means ~

cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable;

exercising the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of strength and struggle; and

nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we believe that we are enough.”

(from Brené’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection)

Sacrificing who we are for the sake of what other people think just isn’t worth it. Staying vulnerable while sharing an unpopular opinion or idea is really the hard part. Staying in presence while keeping your heart open—whooo, that is a true act of courage.

Every time we trade our authenticity for safety, we can expect to experience anxiety, unhappiness, resentment, anger, blame and sadness.

So where’s the connection to living sustainably?

Living sustainably—living so as to not compromise the ability of future generations of living beings (human, flora and fauna) to meet their own needs—reflects a holistic understanding of life rather than a surface understanding of life.

Most people settle for a surface understanding and try to get by on that.

But we’re living in a time where entire human infrastructures are imploding and governments (that should actually be governing) are running out of money to artificially prop these infrastructures up. This has become so obvious that most of us see and feel the need for big change.

Yet, every time we trade holistic living for surface living—ignoring our individual impact on the planet no matter how small (remember, there’s 7 billion of us)—we can expect to experience the same range of emotions… anxiety, unhappiness, resentment, anger, blame and sadness. Wow!

Ah, but when we develop a holistic understanding of life at its very center—when we experience learning in the REAL world (growing food, exploring a watershed, restoring a wetland, making preserves, raising chickens) such learning overcomes our alienation from nature and rekindles as sense of place—a sense of genuine belonging. Living in harmony with the organizing principles of nature IS authentic living.

Exploring our natural world

Teaching ourselves and our children that the fundamental facts of life are dynamically interwoven, with living systems nested within living systems—returns us to our wholeness—our authenticity—and revitalizes new ways of thinking and living within the earth’s resources. Were we ever not part of the earth’s living systems? Only in our heads.

Deciding, Choosing and Instinctive Values

While it’s true that we don’t need to understand how electricity works to light up a room, we do need to become ecologically literate to understand the principles that govern all living systems—including ourselves—that have evolved to sustain the web of life. This way, we can truly live in authentic alignment with the world that sustains us.

Did you know stewardship is an instinctive value within the human being? Joy and compassionate care of the natural world are instinctive in children who spend time in nature. These behaviors don’t need to be taught except where the connection is lost. That’s really something to ponder.

At some point you may, like me, prefer to use the word decide rather than choose. I make this distinction because decision points are turning points. They are reflected in our daily choices. Like a fulcrum, decisions drive choices. Otherwise choices are just choices, and there’s no uber consciousness guiding any given choice.

2 Responses

Isn’t it unlimited knowledge driving us thinking too much? Believe me I love your views here! Believe me I cry when I see city kids are running behind the bus, carrying bag pack, books and water bottle detached of the world of nature! Rat race or cat race, no difference at all! Tom will run behind Jerry, this is the laws of nature! We are to follow our instincts!

Unlimited knowledge is omnipresent. It’s just a matter of how well we are able to tune into it. Instincts can be of a bodily nature or of a more subtle, spiritual nature. Check out Using Our 33 Other Senses. Keep on asking questions!!